Shoe fitting stool



Dec. 23, 1941. w 'LQQKE 2,267,158

SHOE FITTING STOOL Filed March 31, 1939 v VIIlIl/IIl/IIIIIIIIII),

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE FITTING STOOL William D. Locke, Beverly Hills, Calif.

Application March 31, 1939, Serial No. 265,071

1 Claim.

The present invention relates generally to stools employed in the fitting of shoes, and more particularly to a shoe fitting stool which includes means for drying the damp feet and hose of an individual being fitted for shoes.

It is a well-known fact that the feet of countless individuals perspire, no matter what the temperature, and that the feet of most individuals perspire during the warm days of the year. This fact gives rise to difficulties in the purchase of shoes, inasmuch as the dampness of the foot and encasing hose or sock renders accurate fitting difficult. Further, the linings of new shoes become stained and, in some instances, receive infectious growths which are more readily transmitted by dampness. Heretofore, powders, and the like, have been employed to alleviate the existing conditions, but such methods have not proved to be very satisfactory.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a shoe fitting stool which includes facilities for drying the feet of an individual being fitted for shoes.

Another object is to provide a combination shoe fitting stool and drier which function both to receive a foot for fitting and to receive a foot for drying purposes.

Another object is to provide, in combination, a shoe fitting stool and foot drier.

Another object is to provide a combination shoe fitting stool and drier which is safe, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate, and thoroughly efiicient in fulfilling all of the objects and advantages sought therefor.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a shoe fitting stool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the shoe fitting stool shown in Fig. 1, the movable footrest being shown in operative position;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the movable footrest being shown in retracted position;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the shoe fitting stool, the rear screen being broken away in part for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the shoe fitting stool, a portion of the movable footrest being broken away to disclose the stationary footrest; and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by 55 reference numerals, I6 indicate generally the shoe fitting stool forming the subject matter of the present invention, which includes a casing II and a drying unit I2.

The casing II includes side walls I4 and I5, a bottom I6, and a top IT. The top I! is covered with asuitablepliable material I8 secured to the top by tacks I9, or th like. A screen 2!] closes the rear end of the casing I I, being secured by screws 2I, or the like, to cross pieces 22 extending between the sides I4 and I5.

A metal grill or stationary footrest 24 interiorly closes the front end of the casing I I, one edge abutting a transverse member or projection 25 secured to the bottom I6, the opposite end being secured by screws 26, or the like, to a transverse member 21 suitably anchored to the sides I4 and Disposed in adjacent relationship to the grill 24 when in one extreme position is a movable footrest or end cover 29 (Fig. 2), the forward end of which rests in a niche 30 formed in the transverse.

projection 25 and the sides of which rest on shoulders 3I formed in the edges of the sides I4 and I5. The shoulders 3| (Figs. 2 and 6) continue along the top edge of the sides I4 and I5. The movable footrest 29 includes a foot stop 32, upon which is disposed a handle 33. A stop element 34 threadedly engages the end of the rest 29 remote from the handle 33. The stop element 34 fits in a recess 35 (Fig. 3) in the top I! to prevent removal of the movable footrest 29. A slot 36 (Figs. 1 and 3) is provided in the underside of the top H to receive the stop 34 in the movement of the rest 29 into the position shown in Fig. 3.

Within the casing II are an electric fan 38, a resistance heater 39 disposed in front of the fan 38, both of which are mounted on the bottom I6, and an electric light 40 mounted on the side I4. The three electrical units are connected by leads 4| in series and to a combination outlet and switch unit 42 (Figs. 2 and 4) mounted on the side I5. The unit 42 includes an operating lever 44 and an outlet 45. The outlet 45 may be separate from the switch, if preferred.

A roller 41 is connected to each under corner of the casing II, which renders the stool II) mobile.

The casing II and its cooperating elements may be constructed of any suitable materials. The defining walls of the casing II may be connected by any suitable means or may be of integral construction.

Operation The shoe fitting stool I II is particularly adapted to be used in a shoe store or other department. A salesman sits on the top I! while the customer sits opposite the movable footrest 29. With the movable footrest 29 in the position shown in Fig. 2, the customers feet are placed thereon and the shoes removed. The foot stop 32 provides an abutment for the heel of the foot or shoe.

After the shoes are removed from the feet of the customer, the movable footrest 29 is slipped back into the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the customers feet are placed on the stationary footrest 24. The lever 44 is snapped to the on position. The heater 39 immediately begins to func tion, the warm air surrounding it being propelled forwardly against the feet and hose of the customer by the fan 38. As soon as the feet and hose of the customer are dry, the lever 44 is snapped to the oil position, which deenergizes the electrical elements within the casing I l.

The light 40 provides a visible means for d'etermining whether or not the device is on or oil. The outlet connection 45 obviates the necessity of an attached cord, which is convenient and expeditious both for maintenance and use.

Ready access can be had to the electrical units within the casing H by removal of the screen 20.

, The movable footrest 29 can be removed by unscrewing the stop element 34. The stationary footrest 24 can be readily removed by removing the screws 26. The shoe fitting stool I is mobile through the medium of the rollers 41.

It is apparent that there has been provided a shoe fitting stool which is adapted to fulfill all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. It is to be understood that the foregoing description and accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example and not for purposes of limitation, the invention being limited only by the claim which follows.

What is claimed is:

A shoe fitting stool for use in trying on shoes and the like comprising a casing of generally truncated rectangular configuration including side walls and a top wall, an end construction disposed at an angle to the horizontal comprising a grill and a movable cover, means under the top wall for slidably and swingably mounting said cover adjacent and beneath the top wall, said grill being adapted to receive the shoeless foot of an individual, said cover being movable from the position beneath the top wall through sliding and swinging action to a superposed position over the grill and being adapted to receive the foot of an individual in such position, said cover being adapted to be swingably and slidably moved from grill-covering to grill-exposing position, a fandisposed within the casing disposed to force air towards the grill, a heater element between the fan and the grill, and means for controlling the fan and heater element.

WILLIAM D. LOCKEL V 

